Democrats -- desperate to prevent a red wave this election season -- are dusting off the "War on Women" slogan hoping to score political points against their conservative rivals. Unfortunately for them, however, Alaska women are not buying it.
National Democrats should do their homework before throwing around accusations, because they will find that here in Alaska, the majority of leading female figures in our state's history have proudly served with an "R" next to their names.
Alaska women know that while Democrats continue to promise more government programs, rules and regulations, Republican women fight for economic opportunity from a position of power. We earned that power the old-fashioned way -- through hard work.
It is the Republican Party, not the Democratic, where Alaska women lead the way: women like Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the first and only female to represent Alaska in the U.S. Senate, and Sarah Palin, Alaska's first and only female governor and the first Alaskan to appear on a presidential ticket -- both Republicans. They are two of the biggest names in Alaska politics.
Alaska's history is also rich with Republican women as leading figures in the halls of the state Capitol. In 1987, Jan Faiks became Alaska's first female Senate president, later joined by two other female Senate presidents: Drue Pearce (that's me) and Lyda Green. I was the first to serve twice as presiding officer; Lyda followed a few years later. Ramona Barnes served as the first female House speaker in Alaska in 1993 and Gail Phillips followed in 1995, serving twice.
All five women who led the House and the Senate were proud Republicans who fought to improve education, the economy and public safety. In stark contrast, Fran Ulmer still remains the only female Democrat to serve in a statewide leadership role, as former lieutenant governor.
We are but a few of a number of remarkable Republican women legislators elected in Alaska. The Republican women elected to the 28th Legislature are working to keep Alaska's proud tradition of strong female leaders alive, aided by the fact that the principles of the Republican Party allow every Alaskan to reach her or his full potential.
Senate Rules Chair Lesil McGuire led the way on many of Alaska's biggest issues, including oil tax reform and Arctic issues. Sen. Cathy Giessel chaired the important Senate Resources Committee, helping pass significant gas pipeline legislation. Sen. Anna Fairclough has dedicated her life to preventing domestic violence and sexual assault, and is one of the state's top experts on myriad other issues, including the state budget.
These newest Republican women leaders, like those of us who came before, chose to go into public service to fight for better education, develop our natural resources, grow the economy and improve public safety. We firmly believe in the equality of opportunity and a level playing field, not special treatment.
Alaskans know that actions speak louder than words. While Democrats merely talk about female empowerment, Republican women roll up their sleeves and lead the way.
Drue Pearce is a former Alaska Senate president and also served at the federal level as the Alaska gas pipeline coordinator.
The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.